Aberdeen Women manager Clint Lancaster was delighted after his Dons side beat Spartans 2-0 in their first post-split SWPL fixture.
Bayley Hutchison netted her 17th league goal of the season in the closing stages of the first half to give the Dons the lead at Balmoral Stadium.
It finished 2-0 after Dons captain Hannah Stewart doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 84th minute.
The win moves seventh-placed Aberdeen up to 28 points, equal on wins with and only two points behind last season’s league tally.
Lancaster said: “I wasn’t here last season, but when I came in we just wanted to take each game as it comes.
“We knew we had to pick up more points after the split and this was going to be one of the tougher games. Spartans are one of the tougher teams we’re going to play in the split.
“I thought our game management was superb.
“The last two weeks in training we have worked a lot on our defensive work because I have been frustrated how we’ve conceded silly goals. We were more organised today and we put everything we’ve worked on into practice.
“The opposition might have had a bit more of the ball, but when you have got the quality we’ve got in the forward areas they will cause problems.
“I was delighted with our defending and our organisation. It was really important for us and I’m really delighted we have kept a clean sheet.
“To have accumulated as many points as we have at this stage of the season is really brilliant.”
The best of the SWPL action at Balmoral Stadium
The home side registered the first shot as Dons skipper Stewart hit shot from distance which was held by goalkeeper Alicia Yates, while Jeni Currie made two saves to deny efforts from Becky Galbraith and Simone McMahon.
Galbraith had put the ball on a plate with a superb through pass to Hannah Jordan, but the latter skied her shot over the bar from only a few yards out.
Aberdeen took the lead in the 42nd minute when Hutchison nicked the ball out of possession, made a superb run with the ball beating defender Dion McMahon, to cut inside the box and fire home from a couple yards out.
At the beginning of the second half, Francesca Ogilvie went close to doubling the Dons’ advantage, but she saw her effort from inside the box come back off the post.
Dons skipper Stewart found Hannah Innes inside the box with a curling through pass, before the latter hit a powerful strike which a composed Yates did well to hold.
At the other end, Currie made a fantastic fingertip save to divert Galbraith’s strike wide, after the Spartans forward hit a first-time strike after receiving the ball inside the box from an Alana Marshall back-heeled pass.
The visitors went close to the equaliser again when Marshall hit the post with a powerful free-kick from 20 yards out which had goalkeeper Currie rooted to the spot.
Aberdeen were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute after Hutchison was brought down by Dion McMahon, and captain Stewart made it 2-0 from 12 yards out.
Galbraith had a chance to pull a goal back for Spartans in injury time, but she sent her header from a Hannah Jordon cross down the left wing over the bar.
Dons goalkeeper starts for Dundee United during emergency loan
Ahead of the Spartans clash, it was confirmed Dons goalkeeper Annalisa McCann had been sent out on an emergency loan to fellow SWPL side Dundee United.
The 19-year-old, who has not played for Aberdeen since December 16, went straight into the squad for her debut as the Tangerines fell to a 1-0 defeat at Montrose, with former Don Louise Brown netting the winner in the 94th minute.
Lancaster said: “Annalisa was keen to get out on loan.
“She trains well and works hard. She is a great person to have around and is a great personality.
“We don’t want to stop her development, so she needs to get out and play. It is something we may even look into for next season.
“I’m delighted she has gone there today and, by the sounds of it, she has actually played really well, despite Dundee United losing.”
The other results
In the SWF Championship, Westhill side Westdyke and Inverness Caley Thistle played out an eight-goal thriller as it finished 4-4 in the Highlands.
Inverurie Locos are through to the semi-finals of the SWFL League Cup after beating north rivals Huntly 5-0, meanwhile Grampian are in the last four of the SWFL Plate as they beat Annan Athletic 3-2 at Galabank.
There was only one SWFL North fixture this weekend as Dyce beat Buchan 9-0 to move up to fourth in the league and are now one point behind the Peterhead side in third.
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